The average cost for a gallon of unleaded gas in WNY is still $2.34. The AAA notes that's five cents higher than the cost for the same gallon a year ago.

Gibraltar Industries will shut down two businesses, resulting in the closure of five facilities and 250 layoffs in the next four months. Business First reports the affected product lines include Gibraltar's U.S.

The banking subsidiary of KeyCorp wants to be among the most active lenders of government-backed small business loans in Western New York. Business First reports that during the first quarter of 2017, KeyBank N.A. expects to approve U.S. Small Business Administration loans with “very significant” dollar volume. The Cleveland-based bank has no set unit or volume goals, but

Having just completed one expansion, Yancey's Fancy fancies itself expanding some more. Business First reports he cheese maker is working with the Genesee County Economic Development Center on a proposed $5.5 million upgrade of its Route 5 Kutters Cheese facility. The plan would add fifteen jobs.

A record 1.6 million guests boarded iconic Maid of the Mist vessels during the

The Buffalo, Niagara County and Southwestern Building, and Construction Trades councils, and National Fuel have announced an agreement on the use of local union labor within the State of New York for the Northern Access Project. The Northern Access Project is a $455 million infrastructure investment.

Colter Bay restaurant is re-opening tomorrow. According to Business First, owner

Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday shopping was a bigger deal this year. First Data reports combined in-store and on-line shopping for the two-day period was 9% higher than the same two days a year ago. E-commerce sales rose 10.8 percent for the two-day period, while sales at physical stores grew 8.6 percent.

R. A. Mercer & Co., P.C. has announced the relocation of its Orchard Park

Steady as she goes for local gas prices. The AAA puts the current average for a gallon of unleaded at $2.33 - essentially the same as it's been for the past month. A year ago, the average cost per gallon was three cents less.

According to Business First, the number of federally-guaranteed small business loan approvals in Western New York fell by nearly 30 percent in

The New York Power Authority has completed new energy efficient lighting projects in Buffalo's City hall and on its downtown streets that will save the city more than $65,000 in annual energy costs. The switch was made to LED lighting.

The Buffalo Planning Board has approved a Benderson Development plan for the former Holiday Inn on Delaware Avenue. According to

Delaware North has expanded its lodging and retail portfolio by acquiring a pair of operations near Rocky Mountain National Park. Business First reports the two properties are the Rocky Mountain Park Inn and Trendz at the Park properties, both of which are near the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station to Rocky Mountain National Park. No terms of the deal were disclosed.

The current Buffalo average for a gallon of unleaded gas is $2.34. According to the AAA, that's four cents higher than the cost one year ago.

Direct flights between Buffalo and Albany could be returning. Business First reports that the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and NFTA are jointly surveying the region’s business community to see if there is enough interest to lobby an

The Erie County Water Authority's Board of Commissioners has approved a revised rate structure for their customers set to go into effect January 1st. The new simplified rate structure categorizes customers based on their water meter size. Also - the Authority’s capital budget will increase by $4 million to $32 million for 2017.

Carrols Corp., the Syracuse-based owners of several local Burger King outlets, is planning to rebuild one of its oldest Buffalo restaurants. Business First reports the site on Main Street at West Utica will be demolished and rebuilt. Reviews for the project begin next month.

MGS Manufacturing Group will be closing its Walden Avenue facility in February. The move

The national average of a price of a gallon of gasoline is slowly dropping with the re-start of that ruptured pipeline near Alabama. Nationwide, the price is now $2.16/gallon . In Buffalo and Niagara Falls, it is $2.34 according to the AAA. D

The Buffalo Institute for Genomics and Data Analytics, as state sponsored effort at UB, has announced it's second major grant. Business First says a $1.1 million will go to Circuit Clinical, enabling 100 new local jobs. Sahlen'